KAMRA® Inlay in St. Louis

Brinton Vision offers KAMRA® Inlay for presbyopia.

As we age, so do our eyes. By the time we are in our early 40s, the natural lenses within our eyes begin to stiffen and become less flexible. We may discover we need reading glasses, and our nighttime vision may become blurry. This is known as presbyopia, and is frustrating but completely natural. Fortunately for our generation, there are solutions for over-40 vision loss.

KAMRA® inlay is a LASIK alternative that helps end blurry near vision without monovision. Monovision means that one eye is focused for distance vision and one is focused for near vision. Although the eyes work together at any distance, monovision results in one eye being clear while the other is blurry. With KAMRA®, both eyes see well far away while the inlay eye allows us to see things nearby, far away and everywhere in between. KAMRA® inlay is ideal for anyone who wants to get rid of their reading glasses for good.

What causes presbyopia?

The lenses in our eyes work like a camera lens, automatically adjusting and focusing our vision. Like cameras many of us grew up with that had manual zoom and focus adjustments, the lenses of our eyes adjust themselves to see things close up or far away. The problem is that, over time, our lenses begins to stiffen and can no longer adjust themselves. At first, we may only notice that we are holding menus or newspapers farther from our eyes. We may not be able to make out street signs at night. Eventually, we have little choice but to purchase reading glasses.

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But there is life without reading glasses. KAMRA® inlay is one option.

What KAMRA® Inlay does

The KAMRA® inlay is a safe, proven and lasting solution to correct presbyopia and restore your everyday near vision. KAMRA® is an opaque mini-ring with an opening, or pinhole, in the center. This pinhole allows only focused light to enter the eye, and not the blurry edges that cause fuzziness in vision. KAMRA® is lighter than a grain of salt and smaller and thinner than a contact lens, and is made with a material in sync with the body’s natural chemistry. It is placed in the cornea of only one eye, allowing patients to see up close, yet maintain distance vision.

What to expect on the day of your KAMRA® Inlay

Plan on being at Brinton Vision in St. Louis for about three hours for your KAMRA® inlay procedure. The procedure lasts about 15 minutes, but before you begin, Dr. Brinton will repeat some of the tests that were done during your Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis to ensure accuracy.

Come with a friend or family member who can drive you home, as your vision may be blurry immediately following your procedure.

Just as when you visit your optometrist for an eye exam, you don’t need to wear special clothing or change clothes while you are here. The only thing we will add to your ensemble is a blue cap, which you’ll wear during your procedure.

You’ll lie down on a comfortable bed and anesthetic drops will be used to numb your eye. An eyelid holder will gently be put into place so that you do not need to worry about blinking during the procedure.

Dr. Brinton uses a femtosecond laser, the same laser used in LASIK, to create a small pocket in the cornea. This step only lasts a matter of seconds. The inlay is then placed inside the opening, and that’s it! The pocket is self-healing, and the desired vision improvement is typically realized within the first one to three months. Some patients say they see better much sooner, while others report that it takes their eyes longer to adjust.

What to expect after KAMRA®

The cornea is remarkably resilient. Within 24 hours, the inlay bonds to it and begins to heal. No two eyes are alike, and although success rates for KAMRA® inlay are very good, just how fast your vision improves and to what degree you will see improvement varies for each person. Some patients see an improvement within the first week to a month, and others take up to six months. Still, most patients resume normal activities and return to work within a day or two.

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The amount of near vision improvement varies by individual. On average, patients are able to read fine print such as medicine labels. While your use of reading glasses will decrease, you may find at times you are more comfortable with reading glasses for extremely small print, in dim lighting conditions, or for extended periods of reading.

To ensure the best results following KAMRA®:

Avoid using reading glasses.
Use all postoperative medications, including artificial tears, as prescribed by your surgeon.
Keep all follow-up appointments.

KAMRA® FAQs

Is it normal to experience blurry vision or fluctuations after KAMRA® eye surgery?

Yes, it is common to experience these symptoms on and off during the first few months following a KAMRA® procedure. This is often a sign of dry eye or your brain adapting to the new vision. Using the eye drops prescribed by your surgeon and giving your eyes frequent breaks can improve these conditions.

Will KAMRA® darken my vision?

The inlay is designed to help your eye focus the light so images and text look clear again. Right after the inlay is implanted, you may notice some darkening of your vision, but as your eyes adjust and you heal, it will return to normal.

Can people see the KAMRA® inlay in my eye?

For people with larger pupils and darker eye color, the inlay is virtually invisible. For lighter colored eyes, the inlay is rarely noticed unless someone knows to look for it and are very close. It may be easier to see from the side in very bright light.

How long does KAMRA® last?

Assuming your eyes don’t change, your vision with the KAMRA® inlay will go unchanged. However, if you develop cataracts or changes in your underlying prescription, you may need an alternative treatment for those issues, such as cataract surgery.

Why is KAMRA® only used in one eye?

You naturally have one dominant eye for seeing things far and a non-dominant eye for vision up close. The KAMRA® inlay is only placed in your eye used for reading vision, allowing you to see up close clearly. Your other eye is either left untouched or is corrected for great distance vision. Working together, the eyes allow you to see near, far and everything in-between.

Who is a good candidate for KAMRA®?

Ideal candidates for KAMRA® are between the ages of 40 and 65 who have noticed the progression of presbyopia, but whose eyes are otherwise healthy.

What are the risks of KAMRA®?

Every eye is unique. Just like every other laser or refractive vision correction procedure, everyone responds differently. The most effective way to determine what risks you may face is to complete a thorough refractive evaluation prior to surgery. A Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis will provide you and Dr. Brinton information needed to determine if you are a good candidate for KAMRA® inlay.

In the hours and days following the procedure, some patients have reported that their eye feels irritated or scratchy. This can be alleviated by using the artificial tears your surgeon prescribes. Some patients may also experience watery eyes or light sensitivity. This, too, is normal and temporary.

KAMRA Inlay